Defense Bill Adds Billions Of Dollars In Military Spending for Connecticut

Tim Cook/The Day via AP

The National Defense Authorization Act includes nearly $8 billion for Virginia and Columbia class submarines, like the USS Colorado, above, which was christened by General Dynamics Electric Boat in a ceremony in December 2016.

The National Defense Authorization Act includes nearly $8 billion for Virginia and Columbia class submarines, like the USS Colorado, above, which was christened by General Dynamics Electric Boat in a ceremony in December 2016. (Tim Cook/The Day via AP)

Military spending that would send billions of dollars to build jet engines, submarines and helicopters in Connecticut advanced Wednesday when congressional negotiators put the final touches on legislation now headed to the House and Senate for separate votes.

For Connecticut, the measure includes nearly $8 billion for Virginia and Columbia class submarines manufactured by Electric Boat, more than $2 billion for Black Hawk and CH-53K helicopters made by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp., and more than $10 billion for joint strike fighters.

Engines for the fighter jets are made by Pratt & Whitney, part of United Technologies Corp. The legislation backs spending for 90 joint strike fighters for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, adding 20 jets to Trump’s request.

“Both houses of Congress must commit to passing this strong defense bill without delay,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Rep. Joe Courtney, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the agreement addresses “one of the most obvious and egregious shortfalls” in Trump’s budget request: the lack of a plan to increase the U.S. fleet to 355 ships.

The initial budget accounted for 278 ships, he said. The Navy can begin to address a “looming shortfall” in the fleet with authority to go up to 13 submarines in the next contract now being negotiated, said Courtney, whose district includes Electric Boat.

Blumenthal said he worked to budget $5.9 billion for Virginia class submarines that includes nearly $700 million more than Trump’s request to fund a third Virginia class submarine in 2020 or to support the expansion of the industrial base as production ramps up.

A third submarine is a major win for Connecticut, which struggled for years to persuade military planners to authorize two submarines a year.

The measure would blow past federal budget caps and Congress has not agreed to a spending deal that would increase limits.

Military spending not only supports the state’s three big defense contractors — Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky — but also thousands of small manufacturers that make countless parts for submarines, jet engines and helicopters.

The legislation also refuses to authorize the Trump administration’s request for a new round of base closures in 2021. State officials, the congressional delegation and Connecticut businesses fought hard in 2005 to remove the Navy’s submarine base in Groton from a list of military bases marked for closure.

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The former site of Bill's Automotive, at the corner of Buckingham and Hudson streets is being cleared to make way for an unusual, $4 million mixed-use development of eight apartments, a gas station/convenience store and a deli. The property is being developed by Noble Gas.

The former site of Bill's Automotive, at the corner of Buckingham and Hudson streets is being cleared to make way for an unusual, $4 million mixed-use development of eight apartments, a gas station/convenience store and a deli. The property is being developed by Noble Gas.

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The former site of Bill's Automotive, at the corner of Buckingham and Hudson streets is being cleared to make way for an unusual, $4 million mixed-use development of eight apartments, a gas station/convenience store and a deli. The property is being developed by Noble Gas.

The former site of Bill's Automotive, at the corner of Buckingham and Hudson streets is being cleared to make way for an unusual, $4 million mixed-use development of eight apartments, a gas station/convenience store and a deli. The property is being developed by Noble Gas.

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Gabriel Russo, of Middletown, owns Forest City Farms on the banks of the Connecticut River. The farm sells CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares giving customers a weekly supply of organically grown vegetables and culinary herbs throughout the growing season. Two years ago the city of Middletown chose Russo to start a farming operation on public open space along the river, putting otherwise dormant property into a productive use.

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UConn's downtown Hartford campus was officially opened Wednesday with remarks by dignitaries and a ribbon cutting, breathing new life into the historic Hartford Times building.

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